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NBA free agency is winding down, and teams are taking shape with the 2026-27 season approaching.
Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will look to defend their title, but they're in an Eastern Conference that's filled with teams that have improved. There's LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat.
There's also no shortage of dangerous teams in the West. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are reigning conference champs, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are looking to reclaim the throne.
There's still time for movement around the NBA. But for now, let's get into league rankings. And we'll start with Nos. 30-21:
Exclusive: Thunder GM Sam Presti talks about Lu Dort trade, OKC offseason moves
Here are the top remaining NBA free agents:
MUSSATTO: OKC Thunder ownership on watch after salary dumping Lu Dort
Sacramento potentially got its point guard of the future in Darius Acuff, the No. 7 pick in the draft. The 6-foot-2 guard is a gifted scorer and an underrated passer, and he should be given the keys to the offense right away.
But there will be some growing pains for Acuff, whose lack of size limits him defensively. And there will also be some growing pains for the Kings' youth movement after buying out DeMar DeRozan and letting Russell Westbrook walk.
More: How did OKC Thunder rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz grade in 2026 NBA Summer League?
Michael Porter Jr. thrived in a larger role with Brooklyn last season, and Julius Randle is another 20-points-per-game scorer who's now in the mix.
Both players can put the ball through the hoop, and so can rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr., but getting stops will be a problem. Brooklyn ranked 25th in defensive rating last season and is now without its defensive anchor, Nic Claxton. Because of that, it's hard to imagine the Nets improving too much upon their record of 20-62.
Despite going 26-56 last season, New Orleans decided against making any significant changes to its roster. It didn't cash in on valuable assets such as Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, and it didn't upgrade the center position.
Maybe Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen will make strides. Maybe Zion Williamson will have a resurgence. But since this is basically the same roster, I'm expecting another underwhelming season for the Pelicans.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee is over. It's now time for the Bucks to focus on developing rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, along with other young prospects such as Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel'el Ware.
A team led by Tyler Herro and Myles Turner won't win a ton of games, especially with the rest of the East getting better. But at least there are some promising players on the roster.
MUSSATTO'S MINUTES: Lu Dort leaves Thunder as best developmental success ever for OKC
Memphis is also starting a new era. One that doesn't include Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, who led the Grizzlies to back-to-back 50-win seasons from 2021-23.
This new era could become Grit and Grind 2.0, though. The frontcourt physicality will be off the charts with Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey and Isaiah Stewart leading the way. Throw in some other talented young players such as Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, and there's something to be excited about in Memphis.
Speaking of excitement, there hasn't been this much optimism around the Bulls in a while. Caleb Wilson looks like a star in the making, and fellow rookie Dailyn Swain is another strong selection.
Chicago also did well to add Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, two guys who should have an instant impact. It's a great start by recently-hired general manager Bryson Graham.
Los Angeles transitioned from the Kawhi Leonard era about as well as it could have. The lottery balls were in its favor, as it secured the No. 5 pick from Indiana and selected Keaton Wagler.
He'll form a nice backcourt duo with Darius Garland, and Brandon Ingram and Rui Hachimura, two good wings. Los Angeles won't be a great team this season, but it should be a fun group with Play-In potential.
More: OKC Thunder assistant coach Chip Engelland joins Rockets staff, per report
The dream of Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together didn't materialize. Now Golden State is left with nearly the same team as last season, minus an injured Jimmy Butler (torn ACL).
Yaxel Lendeborg should be a bright spot, especially if he carries over momentum from his Summer League MVP run. But Curry ultimately doesn't have enough help around him to make this a very competitive group.
Charlotte had the second-best net rating in the entire league after last season's All-Star break. And while I didn't expect the Hornets to fully carry that momentum into the new campaign, I did think it was a playoff team.
But I think Charlotte will really miss LaMelo Ball, who was the engine to its electric offense. Coby White will try to fill that production and Naz Reid will also provide good production in the frontcourt. Still, this is looking like a fringe Play-In team now.
Washington should have an All-Star-caliber duo of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, assuming the big man gets re-signed. And it has a superstar in the making with AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in the 2026 draft.
The Wizards also have good size with players such as Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton in the mix. I expect them to be in the Play-In hunt with hopes of making their first playoff appearance since 2021.
More: Trae Young announces plans for new athletic center to be built in Yukon
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA power rankings after free agency: Can AJ Dybantsa, Wizards make immediate noise?
Continue reading...
Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will look to defend their title, but they're in an Eastern Conference that's filled with teams that have improved. There's LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat.
There's also no shortage of dangerous teams in the West. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are reigning conference champs, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are looking to reclaim the throne.
There's still time for movement around the NBA. But for now, let's get into league rankings. And we'll start with Nos. 30-21:
Exclusive: Thunder GM Sam Presti talks about Lu Dort trade, OKC offseason moves
Top available NBA free agents
Here are the top remaining NBA free agents:
- Guards: James Harden, Bennedict Mathurin (RFA), Bruce Brown Jr., Russell Westbrook, Gary Payton II, Brandon Williams and Gabe Vincent
- Forwards: Peyton Watson (RFA), Jonathan Kuminga, DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, Nicolas Batum, Ochai Agbaji and Jeremy Sochan
- Centers: Jalen Duren (RFA), Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks and Kelly Olynyk
MUSSATTO: OKC Thunder ownership on watch after salary dumping Lu Dort
NBA rankings after 2026 offseason: 30-21
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No. 30: Sacramento Kings
- Added: Darius Acuff, Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp
- Lost: Devin Carter, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook
- Projected starting lineup: Darius Acuff, Zach LaVine, Nique Clifford, De'Andre Hunter and Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento potentially got its point guard of the future in Darius Acuff, the No. 7 pick in the draft. The 6-foot-2 guard is a gifted scorer and an underrated passer, and he should be given the keys to the offense right away.
But there will be some growing pains for Acuff, whose lack of size limits him defensively. And there will also be some growing pains for the Kings' youth movement after buying out DeMar DeRozan and letting Russell Westbrook walk.
More: How did OKC Thunder rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz grade in 2026 NBA Summer League?
No. 29: Brooklyn Nets
- Added: Tyler Bilodeau, Mikel Brown Jr., Keon Ellis, Joshua Jefferson, Julius Randle and Moritz Wagner
- Lost: Ziaire Williams and Nic Claxton
- Projected starting lineup: Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe
Michael Porter Jr. thrived in a larger role with Brooklyn last season, and Julius Randle is another 20-points-per-game scorer who's now in the mix.
Both players can put the ball through the hoop, and so can rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr., but getting stops will be a problem. Brooklyn ranked 25th in defensive rating last season and is now without its defensive anchor, Nic Claxton. Because of that, it's hard to imagine the Nets improving too much upon their record of 20-62.
No. 28: New Orleans Pelicans
- Added: Jaron Pierre Jr.
- Lost: Kevon Looney
- Projected starting lineup: Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson and Yves Missi
Despite going 26-56 last season, New Orleans decided against making any significant changes to its roster. It didn't cash in on valuable assets such as Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, and it didn't upgrade the center position.
Maybe Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen will make strides. Maybe Zion Williamson will have a resurgence. But since this is basically the same roster, I'm expecting another underwhelming season for the Pelicans.
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No. 27: Milwaukee Bucks
- Added: Nate Ament, Brayden Burries, Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caris LeVert, Malique Lewis and Kel'el Ware
- Lost: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince
- Projected starting lineup: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner
The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee is over. It's now time for the Bucks to focus on developing rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, along with other young prospects such as Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel'el Ware.
A team led by Tyler Herro and Myles Turner won't win a ton of games, especially with the rest of the East getting better. But at least there are some promising players on the roster.
MUSSATTO'S MINUTES: Lu Dort leaves Thunder as best developmental success ever for OKC
No. 26: Memphis Grizzlies
- Added: Cameron Boozer, Jerami Grant, AJ Johnson, Karim Lopez, Kris Murray, Quinten Post, D'Angelo Russell, Richie Saunders and Isaiah Stewart
- Lost: Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ja Morant
- Projected starting lineup: Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey
Memphis is also starting a new era. One that doesn't include Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, who led the Grizzlies to back-to-back 50-win seasons from 2021-23.
This new era could become Grit and Grind 2.0, though. The frontcourt physicality will be off the charts with Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey and Isaiah Stewart leading the way. Throw in some other talented young players such as Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, and there's something to be excited about in Memphis.
No. 25: Chicago Bulls
- Added: Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, Dailyn Swain and Caleb Wilson
- Lost: Anfernee Simons, Mouhamadou Gueye and Collin Sexton
- Projected starting lineup: Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton
Speaking of excitement, there hasn't been this much optimism around the Bulls in a while. Caleb Wilson looks like a star in the making, and fellow rookie Dailyn Swain is another strong selection.
Chicago also did well to add Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, two guys who should have an instant impact. It's a great start by recently-hired general manager Bryson Graham.
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No. 24: Los Angeles Clippers
- Added: Rui Hachimura, Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, Nick Martinelli, Baba Miller, Johni Broome and Keaton Wagler
- Lost: Bogdan Bogdanovic, John Collins and Kawhi Leonard
- Projected starting lineup: Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, Brandon Ingram, Rui Hachimura and Brook Lopez
Los Angeles transitioned from the Kawhi Leonard era about as well as it could have. The lottery balls were in its favor, as it secured the No. 5 pick from Indiana and selected Keaton Wagler.
He'll form a nice backcourt duo with Darius Garland, and Brandon Ingram and Rui Hachimura, two good wings. Los Angeles won't be a great team this season, but it should be a fun group with Play-In potential.
More: OKC Thunder assistant coach Chip Engelland joins Rockets staff, per report
No. 23: Golden State Warriors
- Added: Lajae Jones and Yaxel Lendeborg
- Lost: Quinten Post and Pat Spencer
- Projected starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis
The dream of Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together didn't materialize. Now Golden State is left with nearly the same team as last season, minus an injured Jimmy Butler (torn ACL).
Yaxel Lendeborg should be a bright spot, especially if he carries over momentum from his Summer League MVP run. But Curry ultimately doesn't have enough help around him to make this a very competitive group.
No. 22: Charlotte Hornets
- Added: Christian Anderson, Grayson Allen, Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O'Neale, Naz Reid and Hannes Steinbach
- Lost: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Josh Green
- Projected starting lineup: Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Naz Reid and Moussa Diabate
Charlotte had the second-best net rating in the entire league after last season's All-Star break. And while I didn't expect the Hornets to fully carry that momentum into the new campaign, I did think it was a playoff team.
But I think Charlotte will really miss LaMelo Ball, who was the engine to its electric offense. Coby White will try to fill that production and Naz Reid will also provide good production in the frontcourt. Still, this is looking like a fringe Play-In team now.
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No. 21: Washington Wizards
- Added: Deandre Ayton, AJ Dybantsa, Khris Middleton and Felix Okpara
- Lost: Jaden Hardy and D'Angelo Russell
- Projected starting lineup: Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr
Washington should have an All-Star-caliber duo of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, assuming the big man gets re-signed. And it has a superstar in the making with AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in the 2026 draft.
The Wizards also have good size with players such as Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton in the mix. I expect them to be in the Play-In hunt with hopes of making their first playoff appearance since 2021.
More: Trae Young announces plans for new athletic center to be built in Yukon
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA power rankings after free agency: Can AJ Dybantsa, Wizards make immediate noise?
Continue reading...
